kaiser member, south bay?

[queenlives]

greetings,

my wife and i are considering switching to kaiser during this enrollment period and would appreciate any type of feedback recent / current kaiser members care to offer. thx in advance.

hal

 

[NSX167]

I like kaiser in many ways, and I have use Kaiser over 6 years already. The best part I like about Kaiser is that I can pick up my medicine right after doctor appointment in the same building. The location could also be an issue for different cases, I recommend Redwood City Kaiser in general. Fremont Kaiser emergency room is busy most of the time. 6 months ago I cut my index finger artery at work, I went into Fremont Kaiser emergency room around 9:15 PM, then I got out the emergency room around 3 AM >_<
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[queenlives]

I like kaiser in many ways, and I have use Kaiser over 6 years already. The best part I like about Kaiser is that I can pick up my medicine right after doctor appointment in the same building. The location could also be an issue for different cases, I recommend Redwood City Kaiser in general. Fremont Kaiser emergency room is busy most of the time. 6 months ago I cut my index finger artery at work, I went into Fremont Kaiser emergency room around 9:15 PM, then I got out the emergency room around 3 AM >_<
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thx very much for the feedback. we have some kaiser facilities ~2 minutes from my house, and the lawrence and kiely facilities are ~15 mins from our home.

thx again, much appreciated.

 

[slamstrom]

If you are not in need of any specialist, and don't want to deal with the balance that the insurance company didn't covered, then Kaiser is pretty good. In my case, we had to switch over to a PPO for my son due to having the need for multiple specialists. We didn't want to have to go through the primary care physician every time. If you are on a daily prescription cocktail, then Kaiser is for you.

 

[Dtrigg]

I go to the VA in San Francisco and because I have Purple Hearts I don't pay co-pays and I am not means tested. Na Nana Na Na:tongue: I worked in health care for years and the San Francisco VA provides the best health care I've ever experienced. I managed hospitals and it seems that Kaiser's reputation is dependent on locations. Some seem wonderful and some are not so wonderful. Search for some patient review websites, but at the same time, consider the poster.

Good luck Hal.

 

[rossii]

I have been with Kaiser along with my parents. I will be switching soon. My parents have already switched to Sutter Health. Kaiser is good if you are healthy and just going in for yearly check ups. When it comes to diagnosing a problem they SUCK! The more patients they see the better its an in and out shop. If you have other options I would strongly suggest looking at them. I agree with slamstrom regarding prescriptions but thats about it.

 

[queenlives]

thx for the feedback, everyone.
hal

 

[gleibig]

Am I the only one who read the thread title and thought you were talking about an NSX color? :tongue:
How disappointing. :biggrin:

 

[queenlives]

Am I the only one who read the thread title and thought you were talking about an NSX color? :tongue:
How disappointing. :biggrin:

buahahahahaha, that's funny.

actually, i hear ken's got a kaiser member but he lives out on the coast and not in the south bay :tongue::tongue::tongue:

 

[ChopsJazz]

No, I said my ex-wife acted like the Kaiser.

 

[harbormaster]

I was actually born in a Kaiser hospital and had Kaiser for many years. When I moved to Santa Cruz I had to be on Blue Cross for 27 years. Kaiser won't cover you if you live too far away from one of their hospitals. When I moved back to the Bay Area 7 years ago I was able to get Kaiser again. I love the Kaiser system. My doc is great, he sends me e-mails, reminds me when it's time for tests, appointments, etc. Filling prescriptions is easy and quite frankly, cheap, my prescription is $15. The other day I just walked in to the SSF hospital for a flu shot, no appointment, and it took more time for me to get my sleeve rolled up than for the shot.

 

[roondogg]

I have Kaiser insurance and all my fiance's relatives do, also. We love it!! Secure emails with my doctor, quick diagnosis, problem solving, and treatment plans. The ORs rock at Fremont and Hayward. :wink:

 

[Hrant]

Like any insurance company, if you don't have a good relationship with your primary doctor (whatever his/her specialty may be), you will be frustrated in the maze of the bureaucracy. This would be true with any insurance carrier. And being able to choose your own specialist isn't necessarily a smart thing if you don't know what the underlying cause(s) or diagnostics is.

I have had Kaiser for 26 years and I know how to work their bureaucracy when I am occasionally given their bureaucratic answers. Plus it doesn't hurt that some of the managers have been my graduate students. Equally important, I am in the health care business and I know the law that governs their business. This helped us seek and they covered out of network services when it was important to secure the services of a nationally recognized specialists on a particular procedure.

Bottom line, if you can't be your own best advocate, your choices would be limited irrespective of which insurance carrier you choose. And yes some are worse than others in drafting procedures that make it more difficult to have choice. Don't just shop on price, but also check with the California Department of Managed Health Care or the Department of Insurance about the number of complaints they have had or pending.

 

[Sir Stunna Lot]

go for it!

(full disclaimer, i am currently employed by kaiser:tongue

 

[queenlives]

thx to all for your feedback, much appreciated.

hal

 

[BATMANs]

My entire lifetime has been with Kaiser.

Still alive...... though I rarely get ill.

 

[SFNSXguy]

I'm a (very happy) Kaiser member from a medical family (my father was a MD and taught at Stanford Medical School).

My wife works for the Permanente Medical Group (the for-profit side of Kaiser). If you have any issues or questions shoot me a PM or email.

 

[queenlives]

thx to all for your feedback, we've made our decision.

hal